RENEE M. GRALEWICZ, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology
UW-Barron County
E-Mail: rgralewi@uwc.edu

I  graduated in 1997 from Washington State University with a doctorate in Anthropology. While there, I received a Candian-U.S. Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research in Canada, exploring Canadian Aboriginal policies and health, mainly within Treaty #7 area. It was a wonderful experience where I learned to better appreciate our Canadian neighbors, their joys and their struggles.

I am now here at UW-Barron, and loving every minute. I began teaching here in September, 1997. Because the class size is relatively small, I get to know more of and more about the students. I encourage lively debates in class (usually to ensure the class stays awake). My primary emphasis in teaching is convincing students that anthropology and sociology are pertinent to their life; to put concepts into practical use; into their reality. It is my attempt at integrating the "School of Life" with the "School of the Academy."

My major interests include Medical Anthropology; Ethnography; Native Americans; and Gender Studies. My research interests involve health care access and usage among marginalized peoples, namely Native Americans in both Canada and the U.S. There is significant differences in Native American/Aboriginal-federal government (U.S./Canadian) relationships, especially with reference to health care. Connecting politics, prejudice, and health care issues makes for very interesting work.